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High-speed mobile services may come at the price of reduced digital TV reception for some

Interference from future mobile signals might make digital TV unwatchable for some Britons, Ofcom has said.

The telecoms watchdog is starting a research programme to find out how to help people affected when future mobile technology is switched on.

About 3% of TV-watching Britons could suffer interference from fourth-generation (4G) mobile, said Ofcom.

Filters will solve the problem for some, said Ofcom, but others may have to use other ways to get TV signals.

The problem of mobile and digital TV signals interfering with each other will arise because the chunk of spectrum reserved for 4G sits next to that used for broadcasting terrestrial digital TV signals.

The auction for the 800Mhz band is due to take place in 2012 and 4G services are expected to follow soon after. The rollout of 4G mobile will mean faster download and browsing speeds for handsets.